Hopper discharge outlet closure actuating mechanism



G. B. DOREY Jan. 26, 1965 HOPPER DISCHARGE OUTLET CLOSUREZ ACTUATING MECHANISIVI 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed March lO, 1959 INVENTOR. 66mg@ Z5; 27o/69, BY W C Jan. 26, 1965 G. B. DoREY HOPPER DISCHARGE OUTLET cLsURE ACTUATING MECHANISM 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed March l0, 1959 www m,

INVENTOR. G60/ge 27mg',

Jan. 26, 1965 G. B. DoREY 3,167,027

HOPPER DISCHARGE OUTLET CLOSURE ACTUATING MECHANISM Original Filed March 10, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN VENTOR.

eorge ofey BY Jan. 26, 1965 HOPPER DISCHARGE OUTLET CLOSUR ACTUATING MECHANISM 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Original Filed March 10, 1959 Jrlii--.

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G. B. DOREY Jan. 26, 1965 HOPPER DISCHARGE OUTLET CLOSURE ACTUATING MECHANSM 5 Sheets-Shee'n 5 Original Filed March l0. 1959 United States PatentiO iis'itied and this application Sept. 26, i963., Ser. No. 225,354 l Claims (sCl. lilmd.)

This application is a division of application Serial No. 798,435, tiled March l0, 1959, now Patent No. 3,032,764, issued March 26, 1963.

This invention relates to an improved hopper discharge` outlet such as employed in railway hop, er cars and t c like.

The objects of the invention, among others, are: provide a closure or gate having bodily translatory and tilting movement and arranged to be moved into and out of sealing engagement with a stationary part oi the hopper outlet; to provide the gate with upstanding side walls for underlying depending hopper walls in closed position; and to provide for sealing all tour sides of the gatein closed position against egress of lading in a new and iinproved manner.

For further comprehension of the improvement reference may be had to the accompanying dra` ings wherein the invention is shown as applied to a railway hopper car.

ln said drawings:

FIGURE l shows the lower portion of one-halt the width of a railway hopper car with the improved outlet structure applied thereto, the centar sill and a portion ot the side wall being shown in vertical section, the a ing mechanism being omitted for the salte of clarity.

FlGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the lower portion of the hopper structure shown in FIGURE 1, as viewed from left to right.

FIGURE 3 is a top plan view of the outlet assembly shown in FIGURE 2 with the floor plates and side walls eliminated and certain parts broken away to better ilustrate the structure.

FlGUl-E 4 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken through the hopper and on a line ii-4i of HEURE 2.

FIGURE 5 is a vertical longitudinal sectional View taken on a line 2-5 of l showing the closure or gate in closed position.

lilGURE 6 is a vertical longitudinal sectional View similar to FGURE 5 except that the closure or gate is shown in an intermediate position after the leading edge is withdrawn troni its side supporting ledges and with the arm and linkage mechanism in entolded state, sai view also indicating by conventional dot and dash lines the position of the closure or gate in tilted position.

FIGURE 7 is a vertical longitudinal sectional View similar to FGURES 5 and 6 except that the closure or gate is shown in normal open position by full lines with the trailing edge thereof held in settled open position by the entoded linkage which is held in such position by an arresting stop, said view also indicating by conventional dot and dash lines the high position of the trailing edge of the closure or gate prior to its assuming its settled position.

FlGURE 8 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view similar to 5, 6 and 7 except that the closure or gato is shown in its extreme withdrawn position and bey d the hopper opening with all parts of the upper sufi and access: l view showing the arresting mechanism as swinging to an inoperative position.

FIGURE 9 is a fractional sectional plan View taken ace thereof c.

on a line 9-9 of FlGURE 2 and showing the arresting mechanism. ln said drawings the car structure proper is i dicated by a center sill and a side wall ll, including a side sill llc, and interposed between said center sill it) and side wall lll is a hopper generally indicated at l2. ln practice it will he understood that another hopper is disposed in transversely aligned relation on the opposite side of the center sill lll but, inasmuch as the structure for both hoppers is similar, the description herein will be confined to the hopper l2. The hopper l2 is generally oi four side. construction including oppositely sloping lloors i3 and which meet with outer and inner side walls l5 and lf3 to forni the four sides of the hopper opening l2.

Ehe hopper l2 and opening therethrough are bordered by a traine .i7 which includes an upper section ld and a lower four sided enclosure i9. rl`he upper seo tion lll includes walls 2l, and of rolled steel plate which ove-rlie the sloping floors i3 and ld and tl e side walls and li. M xtend at The walls ne, anc 2f?, an inwardly sloping angle and wall 23, which overlies the inner side wall lo, includes a downwardly inwardly sloping section Z4, lil-(EURE 4. rlhere is therefore formed by walls Ztl, 2l, 22 and Ztl an inverted trapezoidal like structure which seats in the lower enclosure i9.

rthe lower enclosurV lll includes longitudinally entendn ing side walls 25' and 26 and end walls 2"' and 28 of rolled structural steel channel. Fthe side walls 2S and 2o and end wall 137 each include sloping upper sections as indicated at 29, 3* and 3l which underlie the respective sloping walls 22, 2li and 2l arid are welded thereto as indicated at 322, and 3d. The end wall Z8 entends transversely at a sloping angle between the side walls 5 and 26 and includes an upper ledge portion 35 which extends from the sloping wall 18 on a radius ol appreciable length to provide an arcuate surface 3d. The ledge 35 constitutes the lower wall of a slot 37 through which a siiding closure or gate extends. The upper boundary of the slot 37 is formed by the lower margin itl of a transversely extending reinforcing member All which is of rolled structural steel angle lil/ie shape with one wall d?, underlying the sloping wall Bil having the adjacent wall i3 enten-ding outwardly and longitudinally of the frame l.

The closure or gate Elo preferably includes a i upturned end and u st ding side flanges le and 47. Runways for the clos each side or" the transe as indicated at ed for supporting the closure or gate 3S in combination with an end ledge in closed position. "Ehe runways are secured, as by welding, to the inner ics ot the side walls 25 and 25 and the i9 is iizewise secured to the inner surface or" the end wall 2?. Extension runways lie beyond ther'rarne l? and are disposed in alinrnent with the runways [ld and al@ to underlie the trailing edge oi the closure or when in open position. intermediate the runways and l-f and Vthe ntension runways 5l? there are intermediate portions extending downwardly at an incline as at 52 and thence horizontally as at to allow for downward movement of the leading edge 3d of the closure or gate 35i as will be described.

ist the sides of the trarne i7 there are disposed extensions 543-503, inthe for-rn of angle shaped rolled structural members, which overlie the side walls: 25 and 2.6 land are welded thereto as indicated at 5". The extension runways are suitably secured, as by welding, to the inner sides of the extensions 5d. Bearings 57 are welded to he outer ends or" the extensions 54B for receiving a rotatable operating shaft operating shaft 5b is cornleoted. with the closure or gate .ad by means of folding linkages generally indicated at 59.' Each linkage 59 is of the so-called jackknife type and there are preferably two per outlet. Each linkage 59 includes an arm 6d non-rotatably mounted on the shaft 58 and a pair of links 61 and 62 straddling the ,arm 6@ and pivotally united therewith by pivot pins 62 and also pivotally connected with the closure or gate 3S by pivot pins 63. Integrally formed with the arms 6d are hubs 6d which, in turn, are held in position along the shaft S3 by rivets 64. Lugs 65, FIGURE 3, are secured to the upstanding flange d5 of the closure or gate 38 and disposed in alignment with the arms 6@ to receive the pivot pins 63. With the links 61 and 62 united together by the pivot pins 62 and 63, it will be observed that the links 61 and 62 of each linkage 59 function as a unitary structure and, when in extended position as best seen in FIGURES 3 and 5, act as struts between the respective arm 6@ and the closure or gate 3S to maintain the latter in closed position with the line of thrust from the axis 66 of rotation of the shaft 5S to the closure or gate extending on a substantially straight line 6'1", FIGURE 5, through the axis 661er the shaft 5S and the longitudinal axis of pivots 62 and 63. Rotation of the shaft 5S clockwise through an angle of approximately 180 opera es to enfold the linkages d to the position best seen by reference to FIGURE 6 which moves the closure or gate 3S along the horizontal runways 53 and to a midway position of the discharge opening l2. The linkages 59, upon attainment of the enfolded state, function as rigid connections between lthe shaft 53 and the closure or gate 38 upon further rotation of the shaft 5S in the same direction by reason of each of the inner links 61 having an indented central portion 63 having a seat 69 which engages with the respective hub 64 which preferably is formed integrally with the related arm 6i?. Upon continued rotation of the shaft 58 in a clockwise direction from the position indicated by full lines in FIGURE 6, there is an upward movement of the trailing end 75l of the closure or gate which is now free to tilt about the arcuately shaped surface 36 on the end wall 2S as indicated by conventional dot and dash lines in FIGURE 6.

In order to assume the functioning of each link-age 59 as `a unit operable in either direction of rotation of the shaft 55, the link 62 is provided with a lateral extension 71 having a peripheral surface '72 extending concentrically with respect to the axis 6d of the shaft 5S and extending through an arc of preferably in excess of 180. The arcuate surface 72 is adapted to engage tangentially with abutment seats 73 and 74 during rotation of the shaft S3 with the linkages 59 in enfolded state as shown in FIG- URES 6, 7 and 8. The seats 73 and 74 are preferably provided by Ithe employment of flat plates 75 and 76 which are secured in place by welding to the bearings 57 as at 77 and 78.

Upon continued clockwise rotation of the shaft 53 from the position shown in FIGURE 6 the closure or gate 38 is moved to full open position as seen in FIGURE 7. Further opening movement of the closure or gate 33 is limited by arresting mechanism 79, FIGURE 9, in the form of a pivotally mounted rod 80 having a plate 81 welded thereto at 82. The rod 80 is pivotally mounted in bearing plates 3ft-4 welded to the inner sides of the extensions 54. The plates 84 are preferably of channel shape with inturned upper and lower flanges 85 and S6, the upper flanges 85 serving to limit upward swinging movement of the plate 81 of the arresting mechanism 79 as shown in FIGURE 8 and the lower flange 36 forming a rest for the plate 31 of the arresting mechanism 79 as shown in FIGURE 7. The arresting mechanism 79 is thus weighted to bias it to arresting position and such biased position is further positively secured by means of ribs 8'7 which are disposed in alignment with the arms 69 and said ribs form a rest for limiting undue overcenter knuckling of the linkages 59 when the closure or gate 33 is in closed position as seen in FIGURE 5.

Whenever complete accessibility to the closure or gate 33 is desired for cleaning purposes, the normally biased arresting mechanism '79 is shifted to an inoperative position as seen in FIGURE 8. Then the closure or gate 38 can be completely withdrawn beyond the opening 12 until its traiiing end 7G rests on enlarged arcuate shaped ends S3 of the arms 60.

In the fully open position, as seen in FIGURE 7, it will be noted that the closure or gate 33 has been moved downwardly from its most elevated or tilted position, as seen by conventional dot and dash lines, through a distance indicated by the reference numeral 89. In its lower or settled position the closure or gate 38 is retained against closing movement under such vibratory impulses as are usually employed for releasing lading since `the axis of the pivot axis 53 is positioned to the right of the axis 66 of the shaft 5S.

Each linkage S9, as will be more particularly observed by reference to FIGURE 7, operates as a strut to support the trailing end 7% of the closure or gate 38 in open position and is held in enfolded position on the shaft 58 by reason of the Contact between peripheral surfaces 72 of extensions 71 on links 62 and the seats 73 and 74 of the plates 75 and 76. The runway surfaces of the horizontal pants 53-53 operate as guides to engage the leading edge 38 of the closure or gate 38 and guide the same along the surfaces of the inclined parts 52-52 to supporting position on the surfaces of runways 428-48.

The extensions SKS-54 are braced transversely by a tie member 9S which is preferably in the form :of an angle member which also operates as a brace for the bearing plates 841-84 which are welded thereto at 91.

Any suitable means may be provided for rotating the shaft 5S. In the present embodiment an operating head 92 having a series of openings 93 for a removable bar 94 is used.

The walls 25', 26 and 27 of the lower enclosure 19 are reinforced by outwardly laterally extending flanges 95, 96 Kand 97 and on two adjacent sides grooves 98 and 99 are provided to receive the conventional type of chute extension as indicated by conventional dot and dash lines at 193 in FIGURE 2. The closure is retained in place by means of C clamps indicated conventionally by the numeral 101.

The assembly of the folding linkages 59 and the application thereof to the closure or gate 38 preferably is acomplished by welding lthe ends of the pivot pins 62 and 63 to the respective associated links 61 and 62 as indicated at 162 and 103 in FIGURE 3 thereby giving each pair of links 61 and 62 unusual stability and permitting them to function as an integrated structure.

What is claimed as new is:

1. A discharge outlet assembly comprising, in combination:

(a) a four sided upper section having downwardly and inwardly sloping sides with the lower margins thereof in horizontal coplanar relation,

(b) a pair of lower side wall members secured to the respective undersides of a pair of sides of said upper section and extending beyond a third side thereof,

(c) runways extending inwardly from said lowerside wall members having upwardly facing runway surfaces in horizontal coplanar relation,

(d) a gate having a horizontal body portion and slidable on said runway surfaces and projecting beyond said third side in closed position,

(e) said gate in yclosed position underlying said lower margins of the four sides of said upper section and having vertical flanges of uniform'height at the sides extending upwardly underneath the respective sloping sides of said upper section and an inclined ange on the projecting end of said gate extending upwardly underneath said third side of said upper section, upper surface portions of said body portion of saiL gate in closed position being in seating engagement with said lower margins of said four sides of said upper seca su n, tion and top portions of said vertical anges and the upper side portion of said inclined flange being in sealing engagement with the under surfaces of the respective sloping sides and third side of said upper section, and

(f) means for moving said gate along said runways between closed and open position.

2. The invention, as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

(a) an end wall member extends between the side wall members below the projecting end of the gate in closed position on which said gate is tiltable,

(b) the surfaces of said runways on which said gate slides horizontally terminate in spaced relation to said end wall member to permit said gate to tilt thereabout, and

(c) the means for moving said gate is characterized by initially causing translatory movement thereof from closed position followed by tilting movement to open posit-ion.

3. A discharge outlet assembly comprising, in combination:

(a) a four sided upper section having downwardly and inwardly sloping sides with the lower margins thereof in horizontal coplanar relation,

(b) a four sided lower enclosure underlying the sides of said upper section respectively and secured to three of the four sides thereof with a slot being defined by the lower margin of the fourth side of said upper section and the upper margin of a corresponding side of said enclosure,

(c) runways extending inwardly from opposite sides of said enclosure having upwardly facing runway surfaces in horizontal coplanar relation,

(d) a gate having a horizontal body portion and slidable on said runway surfaces and projecting through said slot when in closed position,

(e) said gate in closed position underlying said lower margins of the four sides of said upper section and having vertical flanges of uniform height at the sides extending upwardly underneath the respective sloping sides of said upper section and an inclined flange on the projecting end of said gate extending upwardly underneath the sloping side of said enclosure thereabove, upper surface portions of said body portion of said gate in closed position being in sealing engagement with said lower margins of said four sides of said upper section and top portions of said vertical anges and the upper side portion of said inclined flange being in sealing engagement with the under surfaces of the respective sloping sides of said upper section and of said enclosure, and

(f) means for moving said gate along said runways between closed and open position.

4. The linvention, as set forth in claim 3, wherein:

(n) the surfaces of said runways on which said gate slides horizontally terminate in spaced relation to the side of the enclosure underlying the fourth side of the upper section to permit the gate to tilt about said side of said enclosure, and

(b) the means for moving the gate is characterized by initially causing translatory movement thereof from closed position followed by tilting movement to open position.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 729,266 5/03 Brenzinger 298--27 987,877 3/11 Harrigan 105-282 X 1,122,918 12/14 Hart et al 10S-282 X 2,317,007 4/ 43 Weniger 222--542 2,859,707 11/58 Dorey 10S-282 X 2,989,008 6/ 61 Lindstrom 10S- 282 3,100,456 8/63 Dorey 10S-282 LEO QUACKENBUSH, Primary Examiner.

JAMES S. SHANK, Examiner. 

1. A DISCHARGE OUTLET ASSEMBLY COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION: (A) A FOUR SIDED UPPER SECTION HAVING A DOWNWARDLY AND INWARDLY SLOPING SIDES WITH THE LOWER MARGINS THEREOF IN HORIZONTAL COPLANAR RELATION, (B) A PAIR OF LOWER SIDE WALL MEMBERS SECURED TO THE RESPECTIVE UNDERSIDES OF A PAIR OF SIDES OF SAID UPPER SECTION AND EXTENDING BEYOND A THIRD SIDE THEREOF, (C) RUNWAYS EXTENDING INWARDLY FROM SAID LOWER SIDE WALL MEMBERS HAVING UPWARDLY FACING RUNWAY SURFACES IN HORIZONTAL COPLANAR RELATION, (D) A GATE HAVING A HORIZONTAL BODY PORTION AND SLIDABLE ON SAID RUNWAY SURFACES AND PROJECTING BEYOND SAID THIRD SIDE IN CLOSER POSITION, (E) SAID GATE IN CLOSED POSITION UNDERLYING SAID LOWER MARGINS OF THE FOUR SIDES OF SAID UPPER SECTION AND HAVING VERTICAL FLANGES OF UNIFORM HEIGHT AT THE SIDES EXTENDING UPWARDLY UNDERNEATH THE RESPECTIVE SLOPING SIDE OF SAID UPPER SECTION AND AN INCLINED FLANGE ON THE PROJECTING END OF SAID GATE EXTENDING UPWARDLY UNDERNEATH SAID THIRD SIDE OF SAID UPPER SECTION, UPPER SURFACE PORTIONS OF SAID BODY PORTION OF SAID GATE IN CLOSED POSITION BEING IN SEALING ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID LOWER MARGINS OF SAID FOUR SIDES OF SAID UPPER SECTION AND TOP PORTIONS OF SAID VERTICAL FLANGES AND THE UPPER SIDE PORTION OF SAID INCLINED FLANGE BEING IN SEALING ENGAGEMENT WITH THE UNDER SURFACES OF THE RESPECTIVE SLOPING SIDES AND THIRD SIDE OF SAID UPPER SECTION, AND (F) MEANS FOR MOVING SAID GATE ALONG SIDE RUNWAYS BETWEEN CLOSED AND OPEN POSITION. 